Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36701301›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Unpacking trust: The Italian validation of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ).

Marianna Liotti, Alberto Milesi, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Annalisa Tanzilli, Anna Maria Speranza, Laura Parolin, Chloe Campbell, Peter Fonagy, Vittorio Lingiardi, Guido Giovanardi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
35citing papers in PubMed
18.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

35 citing papers in PubMed, 65 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Childhood Trauma and Aggression: The Role of Epistemic Trust.Journal of child & adolescent trauma · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Marianna LiottiDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Alberto MilesiDepartment of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Lombardia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9000-1012
Grazia Fernanda SpitoniDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Annalisa TanzilliDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Anna Maria SperanzaDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Laura ParolinDepartment of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Lombardia, Italy.
Chloe CampbellResearch Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, England, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-0592-9949
Peter FonagyResearch Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, England, United Kingdom.
Vittorio LingiardiDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Guido GiovanardiDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Sapienza University of Rome · ITUniversity College London · GBUniversity of Milano-Bicocca · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The construct of epistemic trust has received much consideration in recent psychological literature, even though mainly from a theoretical perspective. The overall aim of this study was to validate the first self-report measure of epistemic trust-the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ)-in an Italian sample. Our primary goal was to test the factorial validity of the instrument, also exploring the influence of age, gender, and level of education on epistemic trust (Study 1, n = 843). Secondarily, we investigated the associations between epistemic trust, mistrust, credulity, and other aspects of psychological functioning, as well as with the presence of adverse childhood experiences in a smaller number of participants (Study 2, n = 445). Besides the ETMCQ, the survey included an ad hoc questionnaire investigating socio-demographic characteristics and self-report measures of reflective functioning, mentalized affectivity, traumatic experiences, attachment, and psychological symptoms. Statistical analysis showed a three-factor hierarchical structure similar to the model proposed in the original validation, with some differences that suggest an influence of cultural factors in determining individuals' epistemic stance. Our results corroborate previous theoretical contributions regarding the association between epistemic trust and psychological wellbeing, and between epistemic disruptions and higher levels of psychological suffering. Both Mistrust and Credulity were significantly related to the presence of childhood traumatic experiences, attachment avoidance and anxiety, lower levels of mentalization, lower abilities in emotional regulation, and higher levels of psychopathological symptoms. The ETMCQ represents an easily administered and time-effective tool. Its use could pave the way for interesting clinical and theoretical findings.

Indexed as

MentalizationTrustHumansMotivationSelf ReportSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID36701301
PMCPMC9879475
OpenAlexW4318149647

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.